Do We Have to Send Invitations If We're Getting Married at City Hall?

The best way to get guests to your wedding? Send them an invitation, of course! If you're having an intimate or impromptu wedding, though, it might seem like a formality that's not totally necessary. We asked our experts if you need to send out invitations if you're having a tiny wedding, like a trip to city hall or an elopement. Here's what they had to say.

Even if you're opting for something small or spur-of-the-moment, sending a wedding invitation to anyone you'd like to have there with you is a tradition that's worth including — just with your own spin. Here are a few ways to make the inviting process your own:

For a City Hall wedding (or one in your living room!) with a tiny guest list, skip formal letterpress invitations and traditional wording. Instead, write a letter! Practice your penmanship and pick up some nicer paper, then write a letter to your guests (either a general note so you can send the same one to each guest, or personalized letters to each guest individually) inviting them to share the moment with you and letting them know why their presence would be so meaningful. Got a little extra time (or not-so-nice handwriting)? Hire a calligrapher to copy down your words in beautiful, flowing script. You can pop these in the mail if you have time, or hand-deliver each note if everyone is local.

Eloping last minute? We love the immediacy of a pretty evite. It's more elegant than a text or an email, and adds a little bit of formality to the occasion. Having a celebration that is non-traditional doesn't mean you have to forgo all tradition! If time is really of the essence, you could also set aside some time to call each of the guests you'd like to invite and let them know when and where to meet. Again, skip the text or email and opt for a phone call: It's much more personal and intimate, especially given the reason you're calling!